Delhi Court Upholds UNI Land Cancellation, Office Sealed

On March 20, 2026, authorities sealed the office of United News of India, one of the country's oldest news agencies, at 9 Rafi Marg in central New Delhi, hours after the Delhi High Court upheld the cancellation of its land allotment due to decades of non-compliance with construction requirements.

The Land and Development Office under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, supported by Delhi Police and Central Reserve Police Force personnel, took physical possession of the premises following the court's directive. UNI reported that around 300 officers entered the building without prior notice, pressuring about 50 staff members to vacate immediately. Employees alleged they were forcibly removed from their seats, with some female journalists manhandled and subjected to verbal abuse. Several staff were not permitted to retrieve personal belongings, and reporters returning from assignments were denied entry. "Despite requests from employees to be given some time and to wait for the arrival of company management, and demands to show a notice, they forcibly dragged and pushed some employees, including female staff, away from their seats and out of the newsroom," UNI stated on...